How Has Thinking about Curriculum Changed over Time?

How Has Thinking about Curriculum Changed over Time?

The theories and ideas of the individuals profiled above, as well as those of others, continue to affect our thinking about early childhood curriculum. Other factors that influence curriculum development today include society’s values, standards, accountability systems, research findings, community expectations, culture and language, and individual children’s characteristics (NAEYC, 2003).

Our society’s core values are expressed through primary documents like the U.S. Constitution as well as through our laws, national holidays, social programs, and public education system. The variety of family structures and traditions, religious practices, and socioeconomic conditions reflected across our changing population continually shapes our culture. Globalization, art, the media, recreational pastimes, scientific discoveries, and technology also all play a role.

Individuals and society process these factors as internally held perspectives, a world view, that affects how we relate to others, react or respond to events, and imagine the future (Mezirow, 2000; Miller & Seller, 1990).

The theories and ideas of the individuals profiled above, as well as those of others, continue to affect our thinking about early childhood curriculum. Other factors that influence curriculum development today include society’s values, standards, accountability systems, research findings, community expectations, culture and language, and individual children’s characteristics (NAEYC, 2003).

Our society’s core values are expressed through primary documents like the U.S. Constitution as well as through our laws, national holidays, social programs, and public education system. The variety of family structures and traditions, religious practices, and socioeconomic conditions reflected across our changing population continually shapes our culture. Globalization, art, the media, recreational pastimes, scientific discoveries, and technology also all play a role.

Individuals and society process these factors as internally held perspectives, a world view, that affects how we relate to others, react or respond to events, and imagine the future (Mezirow, 2000; Miller & Seller, 1990).